The Middleton biotechnology company was one of 32 companies and organizations across the country honored by the U.S. Department of Commerce this week for exports of their goods and services. Lucigen received a 2017 President’s “E” Award for recording a sustained increase in export sales over the past four years.

Earlier this month, the company received a 2017 Wisconsin Governor’s Export Award.

Lucigen makes biomedical research products. With the expansion of its distribution network as well as the addition of new products, it has nearly doubled product sales from less than $6 million in 2014 to $11 million in 2016. Product sales are expected to hit nearly $20 million in 2017, said Glaselyn Miller, director of global sales and distribution.

International sales are an increasing part of Lucigen’s growth and have more than doubled over the past three years, Miller said.

Employment at Lucigen also is on the upswing. The company has 65 employees, including 10 added in the past year, and plans to hire another 15 to 20 this year, Miller said.